Mum kicking down barriers

Camera IconKristy Hitchens hopes to empower other woman through her new-found love of taekwondo. Credit: Jon Gellweiler / South Western Times

It is pretty standard when many 40-somethings take up lawn bowls, golf or some other form of social and perhaps less physical sport.

But an Australind mother is literally kicking her way through those stereotypical barriers.

Kristy Hitchens spent several years watching her now 11-year-old son from the sidelines as he mastered the martial art of taekwondo.

In a decision that has well and truly changed the 42-year-old’s life, Kristy stepped into the dojang and has not looked back.

“I never in a million years expected that taekwondo would become such a big and important part of my life and how I see myself,” Kristy said.

“The massive range of benefits I have experienced as a result of stepping outside my comfort zone and doing something that constantly challenges me in every regard has been such a game changer.

“I will be forever grateful to the wonderful people who coaxed me off the sidelines where I sat for five years, watching my son train.”

Camera IconKristy Hitchens hopes to empower other women through her new-found love of taekwondo. Credit: Jon Gellweiler / South Western Times

Kristy says there is a myriad of benefits that come with the sport, including health, fitness, confidence building and empowerment.

It is those paybacks that inspired Kristy to start up a scholarship program to help other women reap the benefits.

“I’m a journalist by trade — I quickly discovered all these amazing benefits, which really took me by surprise, so I wrote a story about it,” she said.

“It was kind of a way for me to make sense of it.”

Her story was published online and shared more than 7000 times, which then motivated Kristy to start blogging about the sport and its benefits.

Camera IconMel Buhlmann, Kristy Hitchens, head instuctor Ajana Plunkett and Kelly Rowe challenge other women to empower themselves through the art of taekwondo. Credit: Kate Fielding / South Western Times

“Through that, a lady from over east got in touch with me and she had just escaped a violent marriage and she was reaching out, really, just to share her passion for taekwondo,” Kristy said.

“She’d been doing it about a year, really loved it but as a result of leaving her marriage, she had to sort of set herself up independently and now couldn’t afford to train anymore.

“That just got me thinking. If there’s somebody who needs to be training, it’s her because she needed to rebuild herself again.

“That’s what made me think, ‘I’m going to do something about this’.”

Kristy started fundraising with the “simple aim” of raising $2000 to provide one scholarship for just one woman.

Through crowd funding and a grant from Cristal Bunbury, Kristy has raised more than $4000.

Camera IconMel Buhlmann, Kristy Hitchens, head instuctor Ajana Plunkett and Kelly Rowe challenge other women to empower themselves through the art of taekwondo. Credit: Kate Fielding / South Western Times

She said schools across the country had also jumped on board and offered to match the scholarships, meaning she now had 10 scholarships to give out.

“I’m literally pinching myself,” Kristy said.

“My initially very small idea has created this amazing ripple effect, especially in the taekwondo community across Australia, which has really come together in united support of the cause.

“The scholarship is really aimed at getting more women into taekwondo ... I call it the gift of empowerment, so I’m hopeful of delivering that gift of empowerment to some people who otherwise couldn’t have it.”

Kristy’s online writing is not that far removed from her everyday life, where many might know her as the communications and media officer for the Shire of Dardanup.

She juggles work and her new-found love of taekwondo with family life alongside her husband Jayson and children Lucas and Ashlyn, 12.

“I love my job, I have been pleasantly surprised by the level of creativity I am able to bring to my role within the confines of a local government,” Kristy said.

“This is due to the forward-thinking style and approach of our council and management staff.”

Kristy hopes her story will inspire others — parents in particular — to try something new.

“Step outside your comfort zone and do something you have never done before,” she said.

“Yes, it’s scary, yes, you worry you’ll look like a goose, but if you can push yourself past all those initial fears, there is serious magic to be found and it will not only benefit you but everyone around you too.”

Kristy is fundraising until November 30 and will then open applications for the scholarships.